Hearing officer approves site development permit for 12871 Atherton Court with screening, lighting and fencing conditions

The Town of Los Altos Hills hearing officer on March 17 approved a site development permit for a new single‑family residence at 12871 Atherton Court, subject to specific landscaping, lighting and fencing conditions and a 14‑day appeal period.

Jonathan Fox, the project planner, told the committee the application is limited to perimeter landscape screening, perimeter lighting and fencing for a house previously approved by the Planning Commission. He said the project was submitted for a categorical exemption under CEQA §15304(b). “The options for the property owner are to relocate the fences outside of the easement to keep them clear or to obtain approval from city council to encroach an easement,” Fox said, describing a 10‑foot pathway easement along the property’s western line that several portions of the proposed fence would cross.

Homeowner Henry Xu, who presented the applicant’s plan, said the planting and fencing are intended to provide visual screening from Robleda Road and Atherton Court, preserve a semi‑rural character, reduce noise and protect the family’s privacy and children. “It is to provide a visual screening of the new structure…for our neighbors' privacy in both directions,” Xu said.

Staff summarized committee recommendations and proposed conditions: revise the Toyon hedge at the northern property line to an informal, staggered arrangement; plant an additional California native evergreen shrub or tree (staff suggested a 24‑inch box or alternatively a 15‑gallon stock range) in designated areas; remove any proposed fencing located in the 10‑foot pathway easement or secure city council approval before installation; submit path lights that comply with an 18‑inch height limit and obtain required encroachment permits before installing fixtures in the public utility easement; and have staff verify removal of existing fences in the public right‑of‑way at final inspection.

During public comment, Anita urged the owners to make fencing as wildlife‑friendly as possible while still protecting children and pets. “Make it as wildlife friendly as you can while, you know, accommodating your children and the dog,” she said. A committee participant identified as Grace recommended mixed native planting to improve disease resilience and advised that Toyon hedges can reach around 10 to 12 feet under favorable conditions.

Neighbors raised questions about how quickly the plantings would screen views and whether nursery‑size stock would provide effective short‑term screening; staff and the applicant discussed moving one of the proposed olive trees upslope to increase near‑term screening. Fox said staff could allow a reasonable range of nursery sizes (15‑gallon or 24‑inch box) in the condition language so the applicant is not restricted to unaffordable sizes while still achieving the objective.

After reciting the CEQA exemption and the standard and site‑specific conditions, hearing officer Jay Bradford said he would approve the conditions and the project as presented. “I will approve the conditions and the project as stated, with the 14 day appeal period,” Bradford said, concluding the hearing. The decision is effective immediately subject to the appeal period; the hearing record indicates staff contact information for follow‑up questions.

Next steps: the applicant must comply with the listed conditions, obtain any required encroachment permits before installing fixtures in the public utility easement, and either remove fencing in the pathway easement or seek council approval to encroach. Staff will verify compliance at final inspection.